Roller contrivance intended for at least one foot

Abstract

A roller contrivance for use with at least one foot, such as a roller skate (1), skateboard, roller ski or the like, comprising a base frame (2) and at least one row of mutually sequential rollers (3) mounted to the base. At least one of these rollers (3) is journalled in a holder (6) which is pivotally mounted to the base (2). The holder is able to pivot about an axis which forms a right angle with the rotational axis of the roller (3) and is located at a given distance from a roller center line (10) which passes through the roller journal point (8) and its point of contact (21) with the underlying surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A roller contrivance intended for at least one foot, comprising a base frame (2; 23) and at least one row of rollers (3) mounted mutually and sequentially on said base frame, characterized in that at least a foremost of said rollers is journalized in a holder which is fixed relatively to said base frame, and in that at least one other roller (3) is journalized at a corresponding roller journal point in a holder (6) which is pivotally mounted to said base frame (2; 23) for pivotal movement through 360° about an axis which extends perpendicularly to a rotational axis of said at least one other roller (3) and is located at a given distance from a corresponding roller center line (10), wherein for each pivotally mounted roller, the corresponding roller center line is a line which passes through the corresponding roller journal point (8) and through a point of contact (21) of the pivotally mounted roller with an underlying rolling surface. 
     
     
       2. The contrivance according to claim 1, characterized in that the rollers (3) in each row are disposed along a straight line. 
     
     
       3. The contrivance according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one pivotally mounted roller (3) is pivotal about an axis which, when said at least one pivotally mounted roller points straight ahead, is located forwardly of the corresponding roller center line (10). 
     
     
       4. The contrivance according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one other pivotally mounted roller (3) that is located further back than said at least one pivotally mounted roller which is pivotal about an axis located forwardly of the corresponding center line is pivotal about an axis which, when said at least one other pivotally mounted roller points straight ahead, is located rearwardly of the corresponding roller center line (10). 
     
     
       5. The contrivance according to claim 1, characterized in that only said foremost roller (3) is fixed and in that said other rollers (3) are pivotally mounted such that each of said pivotally mounted rollers is pivotable about an associated axis which is located forwardly of the corresponding center line when said corresponding pivotally mounted roller points straight ahead. 
     
     
       6. The contrivance according to claim 1, characterized in that the contrivance includes four rollers (3); that the foremost roller (3) is fixed; that the next roller in the row is pivotally mounted such that said next roller is able to pivot about an associated axis which, when said next roller points straight ahead, is located forwardly of the corresponding roller center line (10); and in that said two rear rollers are pivotally mounted such that each of said two rear rollers is pivotal about an associated axis which, when said associated roller points straight ahead, said associated axis is located behind the corresponding roller center line (10). 
     
     
       7. The contrivance according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the pivotal rollers (3) can be pivoted individually and freely through 360°. 
     
     
       8. The contrivance according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one pivotal roller (3) provides a braking facility in one direction of rotation. 
     
     
       9. The contrivance according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one pivotal roller is adapted to be braked by coaction with a brake device when said pivotal roller is pivoted through a predetermined angle. 
     
     
       10. The contrivance according to claim 1, wherein said rollers form part of a roller skate. 
     
     
       11. The contrivance according to claim 1, wherein said rollers form part of a skate board. 
     
     
       12. The contrivance according to claim 1, wherein said rollers form part of a roller ski.